Lubricating arrangement for a pumping means



March -29, 1966 o. BELLI/IER 3,243,103

LUBRICATING ARRANGEMENT FOR A PUMPING MEANS Filed May 21. 1964 l 2s 1E FIG. 2 FIG. 3

FRIEDRICH o. BELLI/IER INVENTOR.

Bwuuw United States Patent Oli ice ' 3,243,103 LUBRICATING ARRANGEMENT FOR A PUMPING MEANS Friedrich O. Bellmer, East Orange, NJ., assigner to Worthington Corporation, Harrison, NJ., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 21, 1964, Ser. No. 369,072 Claims. (Cl. 230-207) The present invention relates to pumping means for fluids and especially to a pumping means which is employed to circulate gases. More particularly, the invention contemplated herein relates to a lubricating arrangement including an automatic valve for such pumping means.

As is well known, pumping means of the type contemplated herein utilize lubricant such as oil, for lubricating the sliding surfaces thereof such as the shaft, pistons and similar movable parts and for forming a seal between the piston and the inner chamber. In prior type devices the lubricating system is a complex arrangement of valves, pumping means and passageways which are usually in the form of external tubing and it is obvious that with these complex types of lubricating arrangements there is increased the possibility of the device to breakdown.

The foregoing prior art lubricating arrangements are designed with the following common principles:

Lubricant is supplied to the moving parts when the machine is operating and lubricant is precluded from being passed to the Vicinity of these moving parts in the quantities that are passed thereto during operation when the machine :is shut down. Obviously, a lubricating apparatus that consists of a multiplicity of elements is more likely to breakdown and consequently the damage that may be experienced; from the lack of lubricant when the pumping means is operating or from flooding when the machine is not operating, is more likely to occur in prior types of apparatus.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a lubricating arrangement including an automatic valve which is associated with the pumping means and which lubricating apparatus consists of a minimum of elements to reduce the possibility of breakdown and the resultant damage to the pumping means from iooding or lack of lubricant supply during operation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing and other ditlicnlties of prior art devices with the provision of a lubricating apparatus incorporating an automatic valve which prevents the iiooding of the system when the machine is not operating and which provides for supply of lubricant on operation of the pumping means.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved pumping means including a lubricating apparatus which incorporates an automatic valve operative to permit lubricant to flow to the moving parts of the pumping means on operation thereof and to preclude ooding of said pumping means when the unit is shut down.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an arrangement of lubricating apparatus in combination with an automatic valve means which provides for the delivery of the lubricant to the moving portions of the pumping means Vso as to improve the operation of said pumping means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved pumping means for uids such as gases.

Other objects and advantages of the invention including the basic design and the nature of the improvements thereon will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal view partly in section Patented Mar. 29, 1966 through a pumping means incorporating the lubricating arrangement of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section showing a modiiied form of lubricating larrangement which follows the principles contemplated herein.

FIGURE 3 is another modified form of lubricating arrangement following the concepts of the present invention.

The drawings are to be understood to be more or less of a diagrammatic character for the purpose of illustrating and disclosing a typical or preferred form of the improvements contemplated herein and in the drawings like reference characters identify the same parts in the several views.

While a rotary compressor is shown in the present description it is obvious that, with minor modications, the present lubricating arrangement can be readily incorporated into a reciprocating type of pumping means all Within the meaning of the present invention as will be spelled out in the appended claims. Now referring in detail to FIGURE 1 of the drawings there is shown a pumping means designated 1 comprising a pumping portion designated 8 and a driving portion shown in part and designated 10. The pumping portion 8 includes a rotary type piston 11 including the usual slid-ing vanes 12. The driving portion 10 can be the usual electric motor which is connected by the usual shaft not shown to the pumping means 8. The usual inlet 14 and exhaust means 15 are included inthe pumping means 8 and lubricant is provided to said pumping means from the chamber 16 which is formed between the casing 17 of the pumping means and the outer shell 18.

The shell 18 includes outlet port 19 which is connected to the source for which the pumping means is being utilized to supply fluid.

As was mentioned hereinabove, the present invention contemplates the provision with a pumping means of a lubricating arrangement designated 20 which is shown as being formed in the portion of the casing 17 and comprises a valve housing 21 including a longitudinal bore 22 therethrough. The longitudinal bore 22 communicates with the exhaust means 15 of the pumping means 8. A vertical bore 23 is formed in the valve housing 21 and communicates with the outlet port 19 in the outer shell to permit the passage of discharged iluid from the pumping means 8 to its point of use.

First and second vertical bores 24 and 25 communicating with bore 22 are formed in the valve housing 21 and a iirst passage means 26 connects bore 25. to the inlet means 14 of the pumping means 8; the purpose of which will become clear hereinafter. nects Vertical bore 24 to the chamber 16 which is formed between the casing 17 and the outer shell 18 and functions as a reservoir for lubricant.

A valving arrangement is mounted in the longitudinal bore of valve housing 21 and comprises a check valve 30 which has aV shaft 31 and is urged by spring 34 to seat against seats 33 formed on housing 21. A second Vvalve comprising a spring pressed ball 35 is disposed lat the opposite end of longitudinal bore 22 and is seated on-seats 36 by the action of the spring which is held in position by plug 37. The valve 35 operates to regulate the ow of lubricant through the passage means 28 to the vertical bore 24 through passage means 26 to the inlet means 14 of the ypumping means S.

In operation, on start-up of the pumping means, the increase in pressure of the fluid urges valve disc 30 off its seat to permit the flow of compressed iluid through longitudinal bore 22 up vertical bore 23 and out the outlet port 19 and at the same time Valve stem 31 pushes the ball of the valve 35 ofI" its seat 36 which permits the passage A passage means 28. conof lubricant through the passage means 28 to the passage means 24 into the inlet means 14 of the pumping means. Lubricant is urged upwardly through passage means 28 as a result of the increased pressure in chamber 16 which is due to the pressurized iluid being discharged from the pumping means.

FIGURE 2 shows a modified form of automatic valve means for the lubricating arrangement shown in FIG- URE 1.

Except for the modified form of valve and valve housing the construction shown in FIGURE 2 is otherwise identical to that shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings and described hereinabove.

Hence, only the valve housing and valve are shown. Thus FIGURE 2 shows a valve housing 21 including a longitudinal bore 22. The connecting bores 24 and 25 along with passageways 26 and 28 are also formed in the arrangement shown in FIGURE 2.

Instead of a two piece valve as is shown in FIGURE l to regulate the ow of lubricant the arrangement in FIG- URE 2 calls for a one piece valve comprising a stem 40 having a disc 41 at one end held on seats 42 by spring 43. A disc 44 -at the other end of the stem 40 seated on seats 45 regulates the flow of lubricant up passageway 28, bore 24 and through bore 25 and passageway 26 to the pumping means.

A further modication of valve and valve housing is shown in FIGURE 3. A two piece housing 50 and 50 is provided.

A first actuating valve 51 is disposed in housing 50 and comprises a disc 52 held on seats 53 by spring 54. Stem 55 extends through the housing 50 as is clearly shown in the drawings.

A second valve 60 operative to regulate the passage of lubricant to the pumping means is mounted in housing 50'. Valve 60 comprises a stem 61 extending through the housing at one end as at 62. A disc 63 seated on seats 64 by spring 65 regulates passage of lubricant through the valve from chamber 16 up passageway 28 to bore 25 and passageway 26.

Valve 60 is actuated by movement of stem 55 which pushes pivotal arm 70 to move stem 61 to unseat disc 63.

Although this invention has been described with reference to specific apparatus it will be appreciated that a wide variety of changes may be made within the ability of one skilled in the art Without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, some of the components of the apparatus may be reversed, certain features of the invention may be used independently of others, and equivalents may be substituted for the apparatus, all within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for automatically lubricating a fluid handling machine containing a lubricant, comprising:

(a) a fluid handling machine having an inlet and exhaust outlet for -the intake and exhaustion respectively, of uid therethrough;

('b) a casing mounted about said fluid handling machine;

(c) a shell having an exhaust port therein, mounted about said casing and juxtaposed therewith to form a chamber;

(dfsaid casing having an exhaust passage formed therein, connected at one end to said exhaust outlet of said uid handling machine and in uid flow communication therewith, and disposed at the other end so as to be in fluid llow communication with said chamber and said exhaust port of said chamber;

(e) said casing having a lubricant flow passage therein, connected at one end to said inlet of said uid handling machine and in fluid flow communication therewith, and disposed at the other end so as to be in fluid ow communication with said chamber;

(f) said casing having an automatic valve means therein for regulating the flow of lubricant through said lubricant ow passage in response to the iiow of exhaust fluid through said exhaust passage, whereby said fluid handling machine is automatically lubricated.

2. An apparatus for automatically lubricating a iluid handling machine containing a lubricant, comprising:

(a) a Huid handling machine having an inlet and exhaust outlet for the intake and exhaustion respectively, of tluid therethrough;

(b) a casing mounted about said iluid handling machine;

(c) a shell having an exhaust port therein, mounted about said casing and juxtaposed therewith to form a chamber;

(d) said casing having an exhaust passage formed therein, connected at one end to said exhaust outlet of said fluid handling machine and in fluid flow communication therewith, and disposed at the other end so as to be in lluid flow communication with said cham-ber and said exhaust port of said chamber;

(e) said casing having a lubricant flow passage therein, connected at one end to said inlet of said uid handling machine and in uid flow communication therewith, and disposed at the other end so as to be in fluid ow communication with said chamber;

(f) said chamber being disposed to form a reservoir for said lubricant, to contain said lubricant between said lubricant ilow passage and said exhaust passage, thereby permitting said lubricant to flow through said lubricant ow passage and to be acted upon by fluid passing through said exhaust passage into said chamber;

g) said casing having an automatic valve means therein for regulating the flow of lubricant through said lubricant flow passage in response to the flow of said exhaust uid through said exhaust passage, whereby said iuid handling machine is automatically lubricated.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said automatic valve means comprises a rst valve in said lubricant ow passage for controlling the ow of lubricant therethrough, and a second valve in said exhaust passage for controlling the flow of exhaust uid therethrough and simultaneously automatically controlling said irst valve, whereby the flow of lubricant through said lubricant ow passage to said yiluid handling machine may be automatically regulated in response to the flo-w of exhaust uid from said uid handling machine through said exhaust passage.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said first and second valves are spring loaded so as to be automatically closed when said fluid handling machine has ceased to exhaust iluid whereby fluid and lubricant are prevented from flowing back into said iiuid handling machine through said exhaust passage and said lubricant ow passage respectively.

5. A pumping means including a casing,

(a) a motor drivingly connected to said pumping means,

('b) said pumping means including inlet and exhaust means,

(c) a shell mounted about a casing of said pumping means,

(d) said shell and said casing cooperating to form a closed chamber,

(e) said chamber comprising a reservoir for lubricant,

(f) an outlet port in said shell,

(g) a valve housing formed in said casing,

(h) said valve housing including a longitudinal bore connected to said exhaust means,

(i) a first passage means connecting said longitudinal bore to the outlet port,

(j) a pair of vertical bores in said valve housing each connected to said longitudinal bore,

(k) a first passage means in said valve housing connecting one of said vertical bores to the inlet means of said pumping means,

(l) a second passage means in said valve housing connecting said other vertical bore to said chamber, (m) valve means Operable by uid being discharged from said exhaust means and said valve means mounted in said longitudinal bore to regulate the Ipassage of lubricant from said chamber through said through said one vertical bore to said rst passage means and to said inlet means.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS v'1,830,424 11/1931 Codnel 103-214 X 2,646,206 7/1953 fB-ram 230-204 X 3,053,439 9/1962 Birill 230-205 second passage means through said longitudinal bore 10 ROBERT M WALKER Primary Examiner, 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY LUBRICATING A FLUID HANDLING MACHINE CONTAINING A LUBRICANT, COMPRISING: (A) A FLUID HANDLING MACHINE HAVING AN INLET AND EXHAUST OUTLET FOR THE INTAKE AND EXHAUSTION RESPECTIVELY, THE FLUID THERETHROUGH; (B) A CASING MOUNTED ABOUT SAID FLUID HANDLING MACHINE; (C) A SHELL HAVING AN EXHAUST PORT THEREIN, MOUNTED ABOUT SAID CASING AND JUXTAPOSED THEREWITH TO FORM A CHAMBER; (D) SAID CASING HAVING AN EXHAUST PASSAGE FORMED THEREIN, CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID EXHAUST OUTLET OF SAID FLUID HANDLING MACHINE AND IN FLUID FLOW COMMUNICATION THEREWITH, AND DISPOSED AT THE OTHER END SO AS TO BE IN FLUID FLOW COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER AND SAID EXHAUST PORT OF SAID CHAMBER; (E) SAID CASING HAVING A LUBRICANT FLOW PASSAGE THEREIN, CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID INLET OF SAID FLUID HANDLING MACHINE AND IN FLUID FLOW COMMUNICATION THEREWITH, AND DISPOSED AT THE OTHER END SO AS TO BE IN FLUID FLOW COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER; (F) SAID CASING HAVING AN AUTOMATIC VALVE MEANS THEREIN FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF LUBRICANT THROUGH SAID LUBRICANT FLOW PASSAGE IN RESPONSE TO THE FLOW OF EXHAUST FLUID THROUGH SAID EXHAUST PASSAGE, WHEREBY SAID FLUID HANDLING MACHINE IS AUTOMATICALLY LUBRICATED. 